Changing diapers, feeding the baby, and putting them to sleep have long been considered the mother’s job. Now that times are changing, we see more and more dads as equal and involved partners in taking care of the baby, so much so that society is lagging behind in accommodating them.
The addition of diaper changing stations to men’s rooms in Bangalore airport is an acknowledgement that childcare is not just a woman’s responsibility.
We see it when we go to malls, restaurants or airports. Only the women’s restrooms are equipped with diaper changing stations. This puts dads who would want to change the diapers in such a fix, at public places.
Even when they grow up a little bit, the dad can’t take his daughter to the men’s room but a mom can take her son to the women’s room? How can we ask them to be more involved when we don’t even allow them the opportunity to do so.
This represents the conventional thinking that still affects our current day infrastructure and conveniences, even when our generation is whole-heartedly pushing for equality. So when a change like this comes along, it needs to be celebrated.
More and more of our everyday places need this very change. Outdated habits like this can be discarded if public infrastructure accommodates equality in everything, including childcare.
It’s encouraging to see how circumstances are changing and how more and more men are accepting the responsibilities of childcare. Let’s hope for more diaper changing stations and fewer gender roles in child care.
Parul Gupta
KSP Team
Shrija Bhadra
Mansi Zaveri
Dr Deepti Lokeshappa
